How Jill Derby would bring a breath of fresh air to Congress

Friday, Oct. 17, 2008 | 2:05 a.m.

Voters in Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District have a clear choice between incumbent Republican Dean Heller, who surprised many of his constituents by attaching himself directly to President Bush’s hip, and Democratic opponent Jill Derby, a fiscal conservative who would bring independent thinking to the job.

Heller defeated Derby two years ago. Since then, the out-of-touch congressman has consistently sided with failed Bush policies.

Heller voter against:

• Allowing Medicare to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices;

• Increasing the minimum wage;

• Renewing and expanding the State Children’s Health Insurance Program; and

• Providing tax incentives for production of renewable energy.

And Heller claims to represent his district?

Derby, a fourth-generation Nevadan who grew up on a ranch, knows the value of being thrifty with taxpayers’ money. A key part of her economic policy is that she would restore fiscal responsibility to government by ending what she termed “destructive borrow-and-spend budgeting” in Washington. She would hold the federal government accountable for how it spends taxpayer dollars, and would seek to “reinvigorate the dollar’s purchasing power to make America competitive in the international market.”

She also vows to end predatory mortgage lending and would allocate resources to local governments to buy and rehabilitate foreclosed property. Her well-rounded energy plan includes greater investment in renewable energy production involving solar and geothermal power, which would serve Nevada well, and she would seek to end tax breaks for Big Oil.

If elected, she would make it a priority to improve access to health care in rural areas and would support expansion of the children’s health program, which Bush vetoed. Expanding the insurance program, she said, would benefit 70,000 children in this state.

Like many other Democrats, Derby favors a phased withdrawal that “allows us to maintain security while leaving a stabilized Iraq.” She maintains this would help our economy by returning billions of dollars to this country.

The 2nd Congressional District, and all of Nevada, would certainly benefit from the breath of fresh air that Derby would provide. The Sun endorses Jill Derby.